Windows Phone is the world’s third most popular mobile operating system, but it’s a very, very distant third behind the behemoths that dominate the industry: Android and iOS. This is why some of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers have only made half-hearted attempts at releasing Windows Phones or have simply chosen to drop the platform altogether. But not Samsung.
Although the South Korean electronics giant hasn’t even released an out-of-the-box 8.1 device since it released the Samsung ATIV SE as a Verizon exclusive last year, the company wants to renew its focus on the platform in an effort to reduce its reliance on Android. The only problem is the fact that Samsung and Microsoft are currently undergoing a massive battle over Android royalties.
Should the issues dividing these two companies be resolved, however, we could see Samsung start popping out some more Windows-powered gadgets as soon as autumn, perhaps even ones that run on Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 mobile platform.
“Samsung has run pilot programs on the stability of Windows 8.1 software on devices. It is interested in promoting Windows mobiles,” an official that is directly involved with the process told the Korea Times. “If the companies settle their litigation, then Samsung will manufacture handsets powered by the Microsoft-developed mobile platform. The timing could be the third quarter of this year at the earliest.”
As of now, it’s unclear whether these Windows-powered devices would be entirely unique or if Samsung would do what HTC did for the One (M8) and just release a Windows Phone version of its existing Android smartphones. What we do know is that the focus at the moment leans more towards the lower-end side of the mobile market.
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